It’s like sitting on your front porch and watching the cows graze, the winds pick up and the clouds roll in. Then boom! The lightning strikes and the thunder rolls, and before you know it, Southern Premier Soccer League (SPSL) action is pouring down on your doorstep.

That’s what it will feel like this weekend to Houston-area soccer fans as a slow, inactive start to the 2010-2011 SPSL winter season gives way to two days chock-full of exciting matchups and historical happenings.

Saturday will bring the exhilaration to Houston as Regals FC hosts Texas Lonestrikers on the city’s north side, while Club America Academy welcomes in Galveston Pirate SC on the southern fringes. Sunday will transfer the party to Galveston where Corpus Christi Fuel will arrive to take on Pirate SC.

When Bob Bradley was resigned I thought the worst thing he can do is stick with the old guys too long. Well he is showing that he is going to avoid that trap. Choosing to leave many of his “stars” with their clubs, Bradley resisted calling in older players and went extremely young in his roster selections for the November 17th match with South Africa.

Four players on the roster are 21 years old or younger. There is a legitimate question about which player will wear the captains armband, I think it is going to be Jonathan Bornstein. Bradley is taking this opportunity to get a good look at the depth of his player pool.

Whether you like him or not, Bradley is making a good move especially at a position like forward. Instead of bringing retreads like Eddie Johnson he is finding out of two young talented players have what it takes at the international level. Same goes for defense with Tim Ream and Gale Agbossumonde. While it would be optimal to have a few of the veterans like Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey to get a feel of what these players has it is a start to get an idea of where these players stand.

This is a move that many fans have called for the past few years. Especially watching countries like Mexico integrate exciting young talent. Allowing these players a stage to show their skill and ability is going to make what could have been an uninspiring match a must see.

Specific thoughts on the roster:

– The player I am most surprised with is Gale Agbossumonde. The U-20 captain has a bundle of talent and for his age he is tremendously impressive. I am not sure how much he will play but this kid may be the eventual replacement for Oguchi Onyewu.

– Thank you coach Bradley for bringing some new blood into the forward pool. Agudelo is part of a stacked depth chart on the U-20 squad and he showed in the playoffs he can handle the big stage. Teal Bunbury, while he may be the most hated man in the Canadian soccer community today, is a goal scorer plain and simple. Something the team desperately lacks.

– Tim Ream and Eric Lichaj, get use to those names. Something tells me they may be around for quite some time. A pairing of Ream and Agbossumonde is high on potential in the center of defense. Their skill sets complement each other very well. Lichaj showed well against Columbia and looks like the heir apparent to Steve Cherundolo.

– The long overdue award goes to Mikkel Diskerud. He has quite a bit of skill in midfield and should get a start in the match. He has the chance to add another dynamic playmaker in the middle.

Projected starters:

—————————-Guzan——————————-

Lichaj——-Goodson———-Ream———–Bornstein

Bedoya——-Diskerud——–Pause————-Rogers

———————Agudelo—–Findley——————–

I think Bradley goes back to his normal 4-4-2 which means one of Agudelo or Bunbury start. I think it is going to be Agudelo because of how well he did in the playoffs. The center midfield is going to depend on Diskerud. Pause and Carroll are holding midfielders. Bedoya could come in but would likely stay on the wing. Ream’s major question is his lack of foot speed. He will and the defense will be tested by the Bafana Bafana’s speed.

Bradley is taking progressive steps in the beginning of this cycle. Whether the players contribute throughout World Cup qualifying is questionable but he is taking steps to look at every possible player with talent. Will it transfer to a win? Not sure. I expect that there will be times where they look bad. That comes with putting a young crop of players together. But despite the result the goal of the match is clear. Find out what you have now so you can go forward with the best possible players.

Maurice Edu Suspected to have a Leg Injury

Edu suffered a knock to his leg in Wednesday’s match for Rangers. The U.S. midfielder was stretchered off the pitch and is undergoing test to find out the extent of the damage. The injury was to the same leg that kept him out of action a year ago. More should come out today regarding his status.

Dynamo Combine Gets a Soggy Day Two

The Dynamo carried on with their combine yesterday with Dominic Kinnear in attendance. Reports on Houstondyanmo.com were that there was not much in the way of scoring but Yordany Alvarez and Jhonatan da Silva managed to find the back of the net. I think seeing Alvarez back for another look is a good sign that the club likes him. You can see video of the day’s action at the Dynamo website.

Dynamo U-18 Signs with Central Florida and the first player from the Dynamo Junior’s Program comes to Train

On the Academy side Leo Ayala, defender from Challenge Early College, signed a letter of intent with Central Florida yesterday. Ayala was voted the Dynamo Academy player of the year for 2010 and wore the captain’s armband for the U-18s.

Also, 15 year old Andrew Tortorich from Mobile, Alabama was the first Dynamo Junior’s Program player to come to Houston to train with the Academy teams. In an interview with the HoustonDynamo.com’s Jonathan Kaplan, the youngster said it was definitely a step up for him from club soccer. He was one of 10 players to receive an invite from the affiliate programs that stretch from Texas to Florida but is the first to come to Houston. The new program will allow the Dynamo to get a step up on talent throughout the region.

I am excited to continue to see “new blood” for the US bring in. It started with Lighaj and Brek Shea last friendly and now a good group of youth and talent to watch.

If you read the ESPN article about the roster, you read that Teal Bunbury has chosen to play for the USA in this friendly but he will not be tied to the USA until he plays an official match. I’m guessing this could be the same for others as well. Overall, I’m sure he’s chosen USA but not until he has a CAP is he a USA player.

There was another article a few months ago before the US played Brazil about how the US had to begin to look for (“recruit”) players that have ties to the US (father/mother are US citizens). I think we are starting to see these kids come up. We aren’t finding them in the college ranks as easily so US needs to continue to find the diamonds in the rough outside of the college ranks.

I like that they are finally figuring out that the college ranks are not the only place to find talented players and they need to recruit instead of expecting players to just come to us.

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Adrain, you are correct that no plyaer is cap tied until they play in an official FIFA tournament (World Cup, World Cup qualifying, Gold Cup, etc). But with Bunbury’s statement this week that he has chosen the U.S.A. over Canada because of the better chance to play in a World Cup I am not sure Canada is an option for him anymore.

As far as player recruitment, I think you are half right. I think the USSF is doing a great job getting guys with dual-citizenship. Diskerud and Bunbury at the senior level and kids like Salgado, Zahavi, Ruelas, among others. Yet, the college ranks are precieved to be at their best in some time. Danny Mwanga, Bunbury, Ike Opara, Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream, and Geoff Cameron are just a few recent MLS rookies from the college ranks that have legit national team futures. Current college players who are top prospects are Zach MacMath, Dillon Powers and Kofi Sarkodie. You are absolutely correct. USSF has to look at all possibilities and not just focus on college players to develop young players (and the need for a youth movement may be coming faster than some realize). -Darrell-

Totally off based question here but what is the deal with Felix Garcia and the Dynamo? Is he still property of the Dynamo or is he free to sign with another team? I had my doubts about the “personal problems” but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. COuld you give me some information on this unusual relationship.

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Garcia is back with his PDL team the Laredo Heat. I would not expect to see him with the Dynamo anytime soon. -Darrell-